Which long-term health effect is associated with air pollution?

• A. Acute bronchitis
• B. Acute kidney injury
• C. Lung cancer and organ damage
• D. Vision impairment

Answer: (C)

Long-term exposure to air pollution raises the risk of chronic health problems, especially cancer and damage to various organs. Fine particles and other pollutants cause ongoing inflammation and oxidative stress in the lungs, which over many years can lead to mutations and an increased risk of lung cancer. Those pollutants can also enter the bloodstream, contributing to systemic inflammation that affects the heart, blood vessels, and other organs, causing long-term damage. Acute bronchitis is a short-term condition often tied to infections or immediate irritation, not a lasting effect of pollution. Acute kidney injury is an acute event, not a sustained outcome of exposure. Vision impairment isn’t a primary, well-established long-term effect of air pollution. So the best answer highlights the long-term consequences: lung cancer and organ damage.